Retirement can feel a little like jumping off a huge cliff. It's been a long trail to get here. You've worked hard. It's exciting but also a little scary as you sit on the edge between working and retirement. Understanding the topic can ease the uncomfortableness of jumping into the unknown. Within the federal government, local human resources staff are no longer trained on retirement. The regional offices can be busy, hard to contact, and at times a little intimidating especially if you don't know what you don't know. In her "Finally Understand" series, Ms. Hatch, a former federal human resources specialist, current retirement trainer, and benefits expert, seeks to explain complicated retirement topics in a simplistic way, ensuring that everyone, regardless of education level or job position, understands. This series provides all of the answers to your retirement and benefits questions in an uncomplicated, easy-to-understand manner. No matter whether you're a human resources specialist or you have no idea how to even spell retirement, these books will make sure you finally understand.Finally Understand CSRS is about the government's "old retirement system" that was created in 1920 and ran through 1983. This books also covers the hybrid system of CSRS-Offset. You'll learn what counts as creditable service, how your high-3 average salary is computed, how to calculate your retirement, federal / state taxes, Voluntary Contributions, and more.I'm not sharing anything you can't find for yourself in any number of places. It is my intent to share it differently though; to boil it down to the simplest components and explain in an easy-to-understand manner. The book is short, intentionally. It's designed to teach you the basics of federal retirement over a cup of coffee. That upsets the gurus who think you need to read OPM regulations to learn about retirement. You really don't. Take an hour and learn about your pension on your terms! Factual information for regular people who aren't benefits experts.